OUTDOORS COLUMN: Some 2012 outdoor highlights

By Ed Wall, Special to the Sun Journal

Published: Thursday, January 10, 2013 at 04:05 PM.

- Quail are still down but not out. Bobwhite quail populations continue to decline throughout the Southeast and, by every measuring stick, are a mere fraction of what they once were over their native range. There are a lot of theories of why this is so but most fingers point toward large-scale habitat changes – “clean” farming, mono-culture forestry, reduced burning, urbanization, sod-forming pasture grasses, etal. The list is extensive. The good news is that there is an organized effort by 25 core bobwhite states, private conservation groups and research institutions to work together at regional levels to restore viable wild populations of bobwhite quail. Called the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (
NBCI
), it involves scientific study, habitat manipulation and the sharing of critical data. Efforts in
North Carolina
, coordinated by NCWRC biologist Mark Jones, include research in a number of sites and, most important, a sense of urgency. It’s a major step in the right direction.

- Duck hunters have a reason to celebrate – sort of. The good news is that, for the second year, the number of ducks on the continent’s breeding grounds was at an all-time high when spring surveys were done by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Reports showed a total population of 48.6 million birds, up 7 percent over 2011 numbers and 43 percent above the long-term (1955-2010) average. This was in spite of unusually dry weather during the breeding season. Even more good news is that the USFWS announced recently that they plan to invest nearly $30 million in expanding federal refuges and hunting opportunities on them. Over 100,000 acres of wetlands will be added to refuges or conserved in other ways, and expanded hunting activities will be added at 16 wildlife refuges in 14 states. The bad news for
North Carolina
hunters is that, for the second season in a row, warm temperatures appear to be keeping waterfowl in the northern states. Anyone up for a carpool to
North Dakota
?

- Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail turned 35. What started out as a dream in the 1970s turned middle-age in 2012 and neared completion. The Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail, a 1,000-mile path that extends from the towering
Appalachians
in western
North Carolina
to the sandy beaches of the Outer Banks, has become very much a reality. Still somewhat a work-in-progress, the route is a network of hiking, biking and canoeing trails that connect Clingman’s Dome on the Tennessee border to Jockey’s Ridge in Dare County. Bill Sadler and John Jaskolka of
New Bern
, as well as other volunteers have been instrumental in its planning and design. Today the “path less traveled” awaits energetic trekkers.

2012 was a memorable year: In spite of the Mayan calendar, the world didn’t end; in one of the most contentious elections in recent history, President Barack Obama was reelected; NASA was able to land a space craft on Mars’ surface without mishap; and, LeBron James finally helped his team win an NBA championship.

In the outdoor world, there were a number of significant achievements, events and trends. A few of them were:

- Rules controlling menhaden netting were finally passed. In mid-December, after an all-out push by recreational anglers and other environmentalists, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission voted to enact several restrictions on factory-style purse seining of menhaden in ocean waters. The catch limits and other reductions are critical in efforts to end the overfishing of this very important part of the marine food chain. It was an event that flew under the radar of the general public but was a cause for celebration by fishermen.

- Boating access continued to improve. Using funds made available by the Pittman-Robertson Act and Dingell-Johnson Act, as well as some provided by private grants and other sources, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission made big strides in improving public boating access to our state’s waters. A number of ramps were built or improved at coastal plain sites, including Blounts Creek, Emerald Isle, Sneads Ferry and the Roanoke River. The new ramps bring the number of public boating access areas to over 200 on 80 different water bodies. Much of the money for those sites came from federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing gear. Unfortunately, there have been suggestions in Congress that some of those funds be diverted to other areas in the general budget.

- Quail are still down but not out. Bobwhite quail populations continue to decline throughout the Southeast and, by every measuring stick, are a mere fraction of what they once were over their native range. There are a lot of theories of why this is so but most fingers point toward large-scale habitat changes – “clean” farming, mono-culture forestry, reduced burning, urbanization, sod-forming pasture grasses, etal. The list is extensive. The good news is that there is an organized effort by 25 core bobwhite states, private conservation groups and research institutions to work together at regional levels to restore viable wild populations of bobwhite quail. Called the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI), it involves scientific study, habitat manipulation and the sharing of critical data. Efforts in North Carolina, coordinated by NCWRC biologist Mark Jones, include research in a number of sites and, most important, a sense of urgency. It’s a major step in the right direction.

- Duck hunters have a reason to celebrate – sort of. The good news is that, for the second year, the number of ducks on the continent’s breeding grounds was at an all-time high when spring surveys were done by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Reports showed a total population of 48.6 million birds, up 7 percent over 2011 numbers and 43 percent above the long-term (1955-2010) average. This was in spite of unusually dry weather during the breeding season. Even more good news is that the USFWS announced recently that they plan to invest nearly $30 million in expanding federal refuges and hunting opportunities on them. Over 100,000 acres of wetlands will be added to refuges or conserved in other ways, and expanded hunting activities will be added at 16 wildlife refuges in 14 states. The bad news for North Carolina hunters is that, for the second season in a row, warm temperatures appear to be keeping waterfowl in the northern states. Anyone up for a carpool to North Dakota?

- Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail turned 35. What started out as a dream in the 1970s turned middle-age in 2012 and neared completion. The Mountains-to-the-Sea Trail, a 1,000-mile path that extends from the towering Appalachians in western North Carolina to the sandy beaches of the Outer Banks, has become very much a reality. Still somewhat a work-in-progress, the route is a network of hiking, biking and canoeing trails that connect Clingman’s Dome on the Tennessee border to Jockey’s Ridge in Dare County. Bill Sadler and John Jaskolka of New Bern, as well as other volunteers have been instrumental in its planning and design. Today the “path less traveled” awaits energetic trekkers.

- Big Rock reaches a milestone. While 120 boats’ crews focused on winning a portion of the $1.3 million purse in the 54th Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament in June, the real winners had already been determined. They were the charities and public service organizations who were recipients of funds raised by the internationally-known event. Groups including free medical clinics, food pantries and the Boy Scouts received support. With the 2012 donations, the tournament surpassed the $2 million mark since its inception. Some lucky anglers also did pretty well. The crew on the “Flybuoy” pocketed $494,710 for taking first place in the competition with a 499 lb. blue marlin.

- N.C. volunteers win national awards. Two North Carolinians, Eddie Bridges and Kim Tavasso, were recognized on a national level for long and dedicated service to conservation and outdoor sports. Bridges was named the “Field and Stream” Conservation Hero of the Year. The Greensboro native was tabbed for the work he has done as founder and executive director of the N.C.

Wildlife Heritage Foundation which purchases land, provides funds for conservation education and restores vital wildlife habitat. Tavasso, from Winterville, was inducted into the International Hunter Education Association’s Hall of Fame at that group’s annual conference in Missouri. Tavasso is a 20-year volunteer with the North Carolina Hunter Education Program and has been “responsible for thousands of people successfully completing hunter education, acquiring hunting licenses and enjoying countless hours outdoors.” He has organized and supervised the state’s Youth Hunter Education Tournament over the years.

For Bridges and Tavasso, as well as tens of thousands of North Carolinians who enjoy the outdoors, 2012 was a very good year. Here’s hoping that 2013 does just as well.